Maggie Cumming, a devout hiker and environmentalist, left more than her footprints on Bowen Island. She generously created a legacy fund to preserve and expand Bowen’s trail system. She also directed that a $500 award, the Maggie Cumming Legacy Fund Bursary, be granted to a Bowen Island student in good academic standing who shares her love of the environment and needs a little financial help. Up to two recipients of this bursary are selected each year.
Past MCLF Bursary Recipients:
2024 Lua Blackbourn, Wylie Stiver
2023 Miranda Forster
2022 Kylee Lightbody, Aria Willis, Alexandra Forbes, Oskar Knowles Dekker
2021 Lucy Griffiths, Kylee Lightbody
2020 Karina Jorgensen-Fullam, Claire Squire
2018 Bowen Wright
2017 Olivia Vallee, Emily Carlington
2016 Phillip Bement, Rebecca Underdown
2012 Annie Faragher
2011 Charlotte Rose
2009 Emily Allen
Maggie Cumming left her beloved island a nest egg to carry on her work of preserving its natural beauty while increasing the network of trails.
The Bowen Island Community Foundation has created a lasting memory of her generosity in this book – The Maggie Cumming Story – in celebration of Maggie’s contribution to trails and parks on Bowen Island. Maggie’s Story (softcover) can be purchased online from Blurb:
Purchase Maggie’s Story (Paperback)
Presentation of Maggie’s Story to her family and friends at the family home on Bowen, May 17, 2014.
- Soren Hammerberg (Bowen Island Community Foundation) & Trish McGeer
- John Riley, Joyce Ganong (Bowen Island Community Foundation) & Josephine Riley with Trish McGeer (Maggie’s sister) in background
- Cathy Ross (Maggie’s daughter) & Trish McGeer
- Trish, Soren & Joyce
- Joyce & Trish
- Joyce Ganong, John Riley, Brian Cumming & Josephine Ril
Past MCLF Grant Recipients:
- Snug Cove House Association (Better Meals Program) – 2009, 2011, 2012
- Bowen Island Conservancy (Education re: Headwater Park) – 2011
- Bowen Island Municipality Greenways Committee (Headwater Park Boardwalk) – 2009